Dade Battlefield Society, INC. Annual Re-enactments

The Second Seminole War began at Dade Battlefield on December 28, 1835 when Seminole Indian warriors ambushed 108 soldiers under Major Francis L. Dade's command.  Only three soldiers survived to report the battle.  The park might have been lost, however in the 1950's, dedicted local residents answered a call to action to save the site and Dade Battlefield received it's designation as a state park.  The Dade Battlefield is a beautiful historic park with a mission to preserve the events that occurred during the attack while protecting the natural environment that existed when soldiers and Seminoles fought more than 180 years ago.

In 1980 the park began to hold various ceremonies to commemorate the attack on Major Dade's command.  The ceremonies were always scheduled on the weekend closest to the attack, and in the mid 1980's, the first re-enactment was held.

The Dade Battlefield Society, Inc. was organized in 1987 as a state Citizen Support Organization with a focus on continuing the reenactment.  This volunteer organization helps plan and implement the yearly re-enactment, as well as other events in the park.

Today, the re-enactments have moved from one to two-day events with re-enactors and participants coming from all over Forida to participate.

This next re-enactment will be held on January 7th & 8th, 2012, with the actual battle scheduled at 2:00 p.m. on both days.

Plan to arrive early because Saturday will be crowded.  You may want to make it a Sunday activity.  Sunday, youth groups/Scouts entry fee $3.00.  Please purchase tickets in advance for this great savings!

Admission: $5/person, under 6 yrs. free

The park is located at 7200 County Road 603 in Bushnell, Florida.

For additional information, visit the website at http://www.dadebattlefield.com/index.html